Literature Review

Inspiration for nursing home leaders: Finding empathy, expertise on the ground and in the airMcKnights Long-Term Care News; by Kimberly Marselas; 6/11/25 In the search for creative strategies, nursing home leaders can’t look just to their own peers. Inspiration is everywhere, as several executives recently told McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. Rhonda Dempsey RN, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Trilogy Health Services, serves in a clinically oriented role, but she says when she wants to better understand the hospitality side of the business, she looks to emulate Marriott, owner of the world’s most hotel beds. “I’m inspired by leaders who prioritize empathy and create cultures that value employees as much as customers,” she told McKnight’s. “Those who focus on purpose-driven leadership and foster environments of inclusion and continuous learning stand out."Editor's Note: The words "hospice" and "hotel" share the same root words "hospes" and "hospitium," meaning "hospitality, host, guest, restful lodging for travelers.

New report details ongoing staffing shortages in Iowa nursing homesIowa Capital Dispatch; by Clark Kauffman; 6/5/25The latest analysis of federal data on nursing home staffing shows the overwhelming majority of nursing homes in Iowa and the United States are operating with less than the recommended staff to meet residents’ needs.

From hospital to home: Mastering transitions of care and preventing re-hospitalizations Mayo Clinic; by Mayo Clinic Press Editors; 6/3/25 Physically moving from one healthcare setting to another — whether it be from the hospital to rehab, or rehab to nursing home — can be a complicated process, both logistically and emotionally. And in the midst of all of that hubbub, it can sometimes be hard for the person in the center of it all to feel like they’re properly being heard. On this episode of Aging Forward, Dr. Maria De la Garza talks about the commonality of communication errors between health providers during care transitions, the importance of caregivers and loved ones in the process, a how to center the patient and their wishes in their care.

Home health provider Intrepid USA files for bankruptcy Home Health Care News; by Joyce Famakinwa; 6/3/25Home health and hospice provider Intrepid USA has recently filed for bankruptcy. The company filed a petition for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the Southern District Court of Texas in late May, according to court documents. Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy results in a straight liquidation, according to Adam Stein-Sapir, a bankruptcy expert at Pioneer Funding Group LLC. ... In 2024, New Day Healthcare acquired Intrepid USA’s hospice operations in Missouri and Texas. Prior to these sales, Dallas-based Intrepid USA operated more than 60 home health and hospice locations across 17 states.

The Roaring ‘20s: Hospice of the Valley hosts senior prom Arcadia News, Phoenix, AZ; by Mallory Gleich; 6/1/25 At the Dementia Care and Education Campus in Arcadia, the spirit of the Roaring ’20s came to life as Hospice of the Valleyhosted its second annual senior prom. With pearls, feathers, vintage flair, and a whole lot of heart, this unforgettable evening was more than just a dance, it was a joyful celebration of life, connection, and music. Around 80 guests – a mix of Adult Day Club members, assisted living residents, spouses, family members, staff, and volunteers – attended the soiree. From the start, the event buzzed with anticipation and excitement. For many, this was a chance to relive a moment they had missed, or rewrite one that had fallen short in their youth. 

Assisted living facility where woman was fatally beaten operated out of 'pure greed:' Suit Delaware New Journal; by Isabel Hughes; 5/20/25 The family of an 83-year-old woman who was fatally beaten by another resident at The Summit assisted living in North Star has accused the facility and its parent company of "pure greed," claiming in a recently filed lawsuit that the previously violent assailant was not removed from the facility because he brought in nearly $400,000 for the company. The family of Shyuan Hsia who was attacked and left to suffer in her room for hours on the night of Aug. 5, 2024 filed the 84-page suit in New Castle County Superior Court in late April. ... Discovery Senior Living, the lawsuit says, "recklessly failed to remove" him, "because if they did so, they stood to lose approximately $370,000 in revenue." That number was derived from:

From an old ambulance, they help the growing homeless population CT Mirror; by Ginny Monk; 5/25/25 The needs of the unhoused are becoming more complex, and the fight for state support is fierce. ... Launched in 2021, the [Neighborhood Health workers] team drives a refurbished ambulance to shelters or encampments, then provides health care on-site for people experiencing homelessness. They’re out nearly every day. In recent months, as more people, particularly seniors, have lost their housing, health workers are finding that the cases they handle are more complicated. People often have multiple diagnoses, and with older age groups, there are often health complications that make the illnesses or injuries harder to treat. Sometimes, conversations are veering to end-of-life care. These conversations between health care professionals and patients are poignant as state lawmakers debate funding for the systems that offer shelter and other services for the unhoused population. ...

66 top hospitals for patient experience, safety: Healthgrades Becker's Hospital Review; by Mariah Taylor; 5/14/25 A total of 66 hospitals received both Healthgrades’ Outstanding Patient Experience and Patient Safety Excellence awards. Healthgrades released its 2025 Outstanding Patient Experience Award, which recognizes hospitals that provide top-quality care while ensuring a positive healthcare experience for patients. The company analyzed data from 3,059 hospitals that submitted at least 100 patient experience surveys to CMS between January and December 2023. It used 10 metrics from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems patient survey data. ... Read more about the methodology here. For patient safety, Healthgrades analyzed 14 patient safety indicators using inpatient data from the Medicare Provider Analysis and Review file and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Patient Safety Indicators Technical Specifications and AHRQ WinQI software. Read the methodology here. ...

Alliance, Aetna & MissionCare collective unite to strengthen direct care workforce HomeCare, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 5/19/25 The National Alliance for Care at Home (The Alliance), Aetna Medicaid, a CVS Health company, and MissionCare Collective have begun a collaborative effort to increase access to home health care for older adults and those with disabilities, and increase supports for direct care workers in Illinois, Louisiana and North Carolina. Initially launching in Illinois, Louisiana and North Carolina, the pilot program is funded by Aetna and brings together two national providers committed to transforming care delivery at home. The Alliance represents providers across homecare, home health, hospice and palliative services, serving as an advocate for care delivered where people live. MissionCare Collective, a workforce innovation provider, offers a suite of solutions designed to build, retain and support the care workforce at scale.

Hospice visits and perceived hospice quality among Assisted Living residents Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; by Wenhan Guo, Shubing Cai, Yue Li, Brian E. McGarry, Thomas V. Caprio, Helena Temkin-Greener; 5/19/25 Background: Hospice services are widely used by assisted living residents at the end of life, yet concerns exist about the adequacy and quality of hospice care in this setting. Conclusions: Higher frequency of hospice staff visits was associated with better perceived hospice quality. Policies supporting greater hospice staff engagement, including nonclinical staff, may enhance end-of-life care experiences for assisted living residents.

Home health use remains high among beneficiaries with dementia, study findsMcKnight's Home Care; by Adam Healy; 5/19/25Medicare beneficiaries who have dementia increasingly are using home healthcare, according to a new study published Friday in JAMA Network Open... Home health utilization increased by roughly 17% among beneficiaries with dementia between 2010 and 2019 and decreased slightly between 2020 and 2022, the study found. Beneficiaries with dementia were also more likely to initiate home healthcare from community-dwelling settings, rather than from post-acute care settings.

Restructuring for risk: How home-based care providers build frameworks that boost profits Home Health Care News; by Joyce Famakinwa; 5/14/25 In the home-based care world, building a business that is equipped to take on risk-based reimbursement arrangements can be easier said than done. While no simple feat, taking on risk is an attractive option that allows home-based care providers to align incentives between their organizations, payer sources and patients. Providers that have found success with risk-based agreements have done so by addressing retention challenges, investing in data and more.